The good, the bad of Padres spring training

Padres left fielder Kyle Blanks, center right, who tore up the Cactus League, has been recalled from Triple-A by the Padres with the start of Carlos Quentin's eight-game suspension. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
— AP

Padres left fielder Kyle Blanks, center right, who tore up the Cactus League, has been recalled from Triple-A by the Padres with the start of Carlos Quentin's eight-game suspension. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
/ AP

In 2000, Roskos, then a 25-year-old outfielder-first baseman had a spring training that became Padres’ folklore. He hit .458 with a .875 slugging percentage and a .527 on-base percentage.

With six doubles, a triple and four homers in 48 at-bats, Roskos forced his way onto the Opening Day roster. But after one hit in 27 regular-season at-bats, Roskos was gone from the Padres. He never again played in the major leagues.

The point is, spring training statistics are usually meaningless.

That said, here are five Padres who impressed this spring and five who believe the longest spring training in franchise history was too long.

Five who flourished

• Kyle Blanks: After missing almost all of two of the last three seasons with elbow reconstruction and shoulder surgery, the outfielder-first baseman hit .359 this spring with five doubles, a triple, three homers and 14 RBIs. Had Carlos Quentin started the season on the disabled list, Blanks likely would have been the Opening Day left fielder. But he needs at-bats more than being a reserve and will start the season with Triple-A Tucson.

“Regardless of when or where it is, it is good to play well,” said Blanks, who is still a prospect at 26. “I did exactly what I set out to do and I’m glad I accomplished that. I’m where I want to be as a player right now.”

• Tyson Ross: Acquired in an offseason trade after shuttling between Oakland and Triple-A Sacramento the past three seasons, Ross, 25, arrived in camp hoping to land a spot on the Opening Day roster while working out some mechanical issues with pitching coach Darren Balsley.

He succeeded on both fronts, apparently landing the No. 5 spot in the rotation to start the season. Ross was 3-2 this spring with a 2.57 earned run average in six games (four starts). He allowed 17 hits in 21 innings while striking out 19, although he issued 10 walks. He had the fifth-lowest ERA in the Cactus League and tied for fifth in strikeouts.

• Nick Hundley: Coming off a disastrous 2012 season (.157 average and right knee surgery), Hundley, 29, re-established himself as a starting major league catcher both at (.375, three homers, 10 RBIs) and behind the plate.

And it couldn’t have happened at a better time, because Yasmani Grandal opens the season serving a 50-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s policy prohibiting performance-enhancing drugs.

• Sean O’Sullivan: The Valhalla High graduate began to resurrect his dream during the second half of the 2012 season while at Triple-A Las Vegas. After signing as a minor league free agent with what he proudly calls “my hometown team,” O’Sullivan, 25, embarked on a strenuous offseason workout program.

He had a 1.35 ERA in 13 1/3 innings this spring, allowing only two earned runs on seven hits and six walks while striking out seven. Rivals batted .159 against O’Sullivan. He just missed making the Opening Day roster, but could be the first pitcher promoted from Tucson in an emergency.